Alma Allen's US Pavilion at 2026 Venice Biennale Sparks Controversy

The United States Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale, titled "Alma Allen: Call Me the Breeze," features self-taught sculptor Alma Allen (b. 1970, Salt Lake City, Utah). The exhibition explores the concept of "elevation" through biomorphic sculptures created via a hybrid process combining preindustrial carving and robotic sculpting. Works use local materials including American walnut burl, Cantera verde volcanic rock, and Colorado Yule marble, the same stone used for the Lincoln Memorial. The pavilion coincides with America250, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence. The project has ignited controversy due to its nontraditional selection process. Commissioner Jenni Parido, former pet supply store owner and head of the privately funded America Arts Conservancy, bypassed standard procedures. Curator Jeffrey Uslip has faced past scandals and accusations of racial insensitivity. Critics decry a loss of credibility and transparency, attributing the shift to the Trump administration's influence and a rollback of diversity and inclusion policies. Organizers defend the choice as non-ideological. The pavilion runs from May 9 to November 22, 2026.